The 23rd season of American Idol is in full swing with judges Luke Bryan, Lionel Richie, and Season 4 winner Carrie Underwood. Underwood has notably replaced Katy Perry on the program, following seven whole seasons of the “Teenage Dream” hitmaker sitting in the judging chair. Fans have been wondering why exactly Perry opted to leave the show after becoming a core part of it for the better part of a decade.
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If you’re looking for drama, you won’t really find any here. It appears that Perry left the show for a career-focused reason.
Why Did Katy Perry Leave ‘American Idol’?
Before Season 23 of American Idol kicked off, Katy Perry announced that she would be leaving once Season 22 wrapped back in 2024. In fact, she announced her departure before her final season even started. She famously made the announcement on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Perry has been one of the judges on Idol since 2018, along with Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan. According to Perry, the decision to leave was far from easy.
“I feel like I need to go out and feel that pulse to my own beat,” Perry said on Jimmy Kimmel Live!. “I love the show so much, but I wanna go and see the world and maybe bring new music.”
Perry did exactly that. While on Idol, she released just one album titled Smile in 2020. Upon leaving Idol, she released 143 in September of 2024 to very mixed reviews from fans and critics. Next month, Perry will hit the road for her Lifetimes Tour throughout North and South America, Australia, and Europe.
“I’m just trying to make space for other things,” said Perry last year in an interview with Entertainment Tonight. “It’s not like me ending this show means I’m going to go retire on an island, even though that would be fabulous. I’m gonna go to work.”
After much speculation over who would take Perry’s coveted seat, Carrie Underwood was announced as her replacement ahead of Season 23’s launch this month. Underwood famously won American Idol 20 years ago in 2005.
Fans are still wondering if Perry will ever return to Idol. In her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, she said she would “come back if they’ll have me one day.”
The 23rd season of American Idol is currently airing on ABC.
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